Category Archives: Saab 9-3x

Saab 9-3x

Grainy spyshots: Saab 9-3x

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Djup Strupe has been busy in the darkroom developing these shots of the coming Saab 9-3x (with a glimpse of the production version 9-4x thrown in as well).

These photos look like they’ve been taken from a video screen, hence the grainy and unsaturated nature of the shots. Consequently we get an impression of what they look like here, but not the level of detail required to say we’re seeing everything.

Click to enlarge and enjoy!

Saab 9-3x

Saab 9-3x

Saab 9-3x

Saab 9-3x

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For those who are unfamiliar with this future model, the car is being referred to for the time being as the Saab 9-3x. Saab showed a concept car with the same name around 7 years ago, but this car is no relation to that concept.

The Saab 9-3x seen here is what you might consider as a Saab response to an Audi Allroad or a Subaru wagon. It’s raised by approx 30mm, is fitted with Saab’s groundbreaking Cross Wheel Drive (XWD) as well as some scuff plating at the front and rear, twin exhaust, some cladding on the sides and some bling here and there.

Whilst the earlier mail had the car debuting in London this month (July 08), recent speculation from Auto Motor and Sport in Sweden has the car showing at the Paris Motor Show in October.

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Thanks to kdsaab in comments, and for those interested in more spypics, Los Jalopniks have a pic of the 9-4x that GM boss Slick Rick Wagoner produced today. Click here to check it out in all it’s fuzzy glory.

If the 9-3x is coming in Paris in October and the 9-5 is coming at Geneva in March, that must leave the Detroit show open for the 9-4x in January.

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More on the AMS article on the “9-3x”

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My thanks to Jimmy J for scanning and sending through a copy of the AMS article that I covered earlier today.

As mentioned earlier, I couldn’t find a copy of it on the Swedish AMS website. It seems that it’s a print-only story at the moment. You Swedes are going to have to go down to the news stand and purchase a copy of the magazine to read the full story. Alternatively, here’s a nice fat link to AMS anyway so you can watch for it to pop up. If you read Swedish, you’ll then be able to read the full text.

Jimmy has passed on a few of the salient points:

* The next 9-3 series is delayed until 2012 (due to switching of platforms)

* Launch of the 9-3x in October – Paris, released early 2009

* TTiD and XWD combination is delayed due to a lack of space (not enough room for the bigger diesel engine and the xwd-systems together). They are working on it, and it will be solved, though.

The new 95 engines:

    4cyl 190hp
    4cyl 220hp
    V6 (2,8) 260hp
    TiD 160hp
    TTiD 190hp
    TTiD V6 250hp 550nm

* No BioPower – Even though they run on ethanol, they are too thirsty and therefore not environmental certified.

* Next generation E85 engines will appear 2012.

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And then there’s these……Auto Motor and Sport’s artistic predictions as to what the 9-3x will look like. As predicted, it’s a raised and dressed up 9-3 SportCombi – and it looks absolutely fantastic!

Click to enlarge.

Saab 9-3x

Saab 9-3x

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AMS forecast Saab 9-3x in Paris, 2008

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UPDATE at the bottom

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Auto Motor and Sport magazine, the Swedish version, are predicting that Saab will show off the cross-country style “Saab 9-3x” at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. The use of the 9-3x name is not confirmed.

Auto Motor and Sport claim that the vehicle will debut in Paris and will be on show with Saab’s 2.0T engine, making 210 hp. They say that the vehicle will be available early in 2009. This may well be the showcase model for Saab bringing XWD to it’s 2.0T engine line, a first in the 2009 model year as it was previously only available with the 2.8l V6.

The modern “9-3x” has been spoken of in these pages for some time now and was informally confirmed in discussions I had in an interview with Steve Shannon in Detroit back in January this year. It was one of the original vehicles planned right from the inception of the Saab 9-3 more than five years ago, but was cut from the program when GM reined in Saab’s spending around the time of the 9-3 launch. Now, with the addition of XWD to the Saab repertoire, the vehicle is back on the menu.

The original 9-3x was a three-door concept car that Saab unveiled late in 2001 – this is not that car. Snippets that we’ve heard about the vehicle, so far:

    It will be based on the 9-3 SportCombi with XWD
    Raised by 30mm
    Chrome roof rails
    Audi allroad look front and rear bumpers
    Twin pipes
    Chrome strips on the lower door sections
    Unique half cloth and leather seats

The report that brought in those snippets also claimed a viewing at the London Motor Show, which starts on July 23rd, however I haven’t heard anything further on this. The Vauxhall/Opel Insignia will be GM’s star at that show.

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Effectively, it comes down to Auto Motor and Sport talking up Paris in October and Djup Strupe mentioning (some time ago) that it would be London in July. AMS’s info is much more recent, but Djup Strupe’s always been pretty reliable in the past.

Either way, we should be seeing the vehicle in the next few months – which is a great thing.

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The summary I saw of the AMS article also had the following info about the 9-4x and 9-5:

In September 2009, a new 9-4X model with 300 hp will be available. Possible competitors will be Audi Q5, Mercedes GLK, and Volvo XC60. After summer 2009 Saab 9-5 will be published with 160hp up to 260 hp depending on the choice of several available engines. New hybrid engines and ethanol engines of the second generation won’t be available before 2011. General Motors developed a “clean diesel” engine with 250 hp, 550 Nm, and 40 % less NOx emission. It will be available for Saab 9-5 and 9-4X

I find it difficult to believe that the 9-5 will be kept to 260hp, especially given that the 9-4x will come in at 300hp. It may be that on release the 9-5 will be kept to that point, but I’m sure there must be plans for a higher output model in the pipeline.

That’s just me thinking out loud, though, with no info to confirm anything one way or another.

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UPDATE

Sven has posted in comments that AMS Germany are saying the “9-3x” will appear in London, which is contrary to the AMS Sweden information. That article, however appears to be referring simply to the 2.0T XWD versions of the 9-3 that we already know are coming to the range in 2009. It doesn’t refer specifically to this “allroad” version that we’re anticipating (thanks bk_aero).

To be clear, I should state again that I haven’t been able to find a link for the AMS Sweden article yet. My information comes from a GM Europe media brief (a summary of GM-related reporting that they circulate internally as a pdf document).

Screenshots of that brief follow. Click to enlarge:

The header page:

GME Brief

The page relating to the AMS article:

GME brief

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Saab “9-3x” to show in London?

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Djup Strupe has been in touch again and there’s talk about some dealers receiving invitations to see/drive a new Saab production vehicle in May this year. I don’t know where it’ll be happening, nor what they’ll be getting into, but I have a theory….

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When the 2008 Saab 9-3 launched last year, there was talk about the US that Saab would be doing something to keep in the news around every 90 days or thereabouts. So how’s that working out?

    The 2008 Saab 9-3 launch for the US was in August.
    A few months later came the US launch of the Turbo X.
    Jump ahead to January and the Saab 9-4x concept was unveiled in Detroit
    Coming up in March we’ll see the 9-1 concept car in Geneva

Now we hear there could well be something to see in May/June as well – and it’ll be a production vehicle.

According to my crystal ball, there should be four ‘new’ Saab vehicles in showrooms by the end of the year. These include the Turbo X, the XWD Aero version of the Saab 9-3, a special edition of the Saab 9-5, and the 9-3 SportCombi crossover vehicle that’s rather tentatively being referred to as the 9-3x around these parts.

So with those choices to mull over, what might it be?

Continue reading →

Saab 9-4x? Nah, but worth noting all the same

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Vince Burlapp, the Hollywood Extra, has posted a picture sourced from Tekniken’s Varld that he’s stated is a Saab 9-4x illustration.

Saab concept

Interestingly, there’s a comment there that reads as follows:

That ain’t it…trust me, I know.

It’s an anonymous comment, and it wasn’t me. I don’t know exactly what the coming Saab 9-4x will look like, but there’s people who do. They all saw it in Sweden earlier this year as Saab Sweden hosted dealers from around the world.

Whilst I’m quite confident that this isn’t the coming Saab 9-4x, it’s still worth a quick look. There’s a lot of 9-3 SportCombi in that image, so I think if there’s something we can get from this image, it’s an impression of what the coming rumoured-to-be-called Saab 9-3x will look like. This vehicle is quite a bit taller than a 9-3 SportCombi, but the impression is still there.

Dealers have seen the 9-3x too, and it’s a definite model for introduction next year. The 9-3x will basically be a 9-3 SportCombi, fitted with the XWD system and raised several inches from the regualr model. This model was planned way back when the 9-3 was first designed, but canned in the big 2002 cost-cut. Photo here.

So whilst the 9-4x will keep it’s apparent anonymity, this picture’s still useful. I think the 9-3x is going to make for a pretty compelling car for the 20-somethings that don’t necessarily need heaps of rear seat accommodation. More of an action vehicle.

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Note, this image is from Teknikens Varld magazine, and I covered the initial release of these images back in June.

There was a 9-4x image on the front cover of that issue, and several sources who have seen the car mentioned to me that they got the front of the vehicle about 95% correct. Note, they only said it about the front, not the side image, which we’ll have to wait and see about.

Saab 9-4x

The 9-3x – What could have been

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One of the great setbacks to Saab’s progress in recent years was the apparent dumping of the 9-3x concept as an extension of the 9-3 model range. This occurence seems symptomatic of several things: first, the high development costs of the 9-3 Sports Sedan, and second, the way GM controls it’s business.

Caveat: I’m no historian. This is my somewhat brief take on what happened and whilst I’ve based on readings from various places, it may be materially incorrect in respects. I’m happy for some Saab people to get in touch and set me straight.

The 9-3 Sports Sedan development team made a fantastic automobile, but it didn’t come for free. High development costs in areas that couldn’t be shared alarmed the beancounters in charge, and this alarm didn’t go unnoticed. Here’s Carl-Peter Forster in Car Magazine back in June:

Here’s an example of Saab independence gone wrong. It created a new electrical system for the 9-3 (even though it shares its chassis – and potentially its electrical systems – with the Vectra). The cost is Eu$10m to engineer alone. Plus the cost of components is higher due to lost economies of scale.

When those costs were deemed to be out of control, GM stepped in and restricted the development program in order to reign in costs. As GM itself was reeling somewhat after the 9-11 downturn (which started the heavy incentive programs we’ve seen right up until today), cost control was in important factor wherever it could be implemented. It would seem that the 9-3x was too adventurous and too much in its infancy for those conservative times.

The potential of such a vehicle was apparent but underestimated. A short time after canning the project, the 9-2x was conceived and developed and became Saab’s entry into the AWD marketplace. As good a vehicle as a 9-2x Aero might be, the thought of what could have been is a little difficult to swallow. Especially with Audi now doing some reasonably brisk business with it’s A3.

The following entries here at Trollhattan contain all the Saab press please information on the 9-3x. It’s an awesome concept, a great looking vehicle and I really think it could have made plenty of sales for Saab. Perhaps with the dissolution of the relationship with Subaru now happening there’s a chance that this magnificent car could be resurrected?

And a brief note to clear up some muddy waters: According to the press releases, it is based on the Epsilon platform.

Please click here to start reading all you may ever see about the 9-3x.

The Saab 9-3x – Part 1

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Here’s a question for Bob Lutz:  Why can’t you engineer this?  The Saab 9-3x could have been a breakthrough entry in 2002 into what is now a growing segment.  What follows is almost a eulogy to a model Saab that would have set GM amongst the progressives in the Automotive industry.  Instead, the stranglehold on that title is currently still residing in Germany.

The Saab 9-3x was developed by Michael Mauer and his team and was envisioned as Saab’s breakthrough entry into the crossover sector.  This was, at the time, a relatively unexplored demographic.  Sadly for Saab, it remained that way.

What follows in this post and in several posts following are the official Saab press releases pertaining to the Saab 9-3x.  They are dated at November 2001.  Shortly thereafter, the project was canned due to cost constraints imposed by the parent company, GM.  Whether or not this car can be resurrected in Saab’s current state of flux and with GM’s current financial plight remains to be seen.

But as you’ll see in these posts.  The 9-3x is a formidable automobile.

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Saab 9-3X concept creates cross-over coupe niche

The Saab 9-3X concept unveiled at the 2002 Detroit Motor Show breaks new ground by taking Saab off-road for the first time.

A unique fusion of sporty, coupe bodystyling and off-road functionality, the bold 9-3X follows the philosophy of last year’s 9X concept in offering multidynamic features, the essence of Saab’s brand appeal.

It is most accurately described as a cross-over coupe, demonstrating that a four-wheel-drive vehicle with off-road capabilities can also retain a strong, sporty on-road appeal. It is the first time Saab has shown a car with off-road abilities and promises to inspire a new, ‘sub-SUV’ niche in the market.

Within its coupe format, the 9-3X offers spacious accommodation for four adults and a versatile load-carrying ability. An all-new, 280bhp, 2.8-liter V6 turbo engine, linked to an ‘intelligent’ four-wheel-drive system, is designed to deliver sporty performance whatever the road surface.

The 9-3X has been developed from General Motors’ "Epsilon" mid-size vehicle architecture, and aspects of its design language, as well as a number of its technical features, are likely to be seen in forthcoming new Saab products. Major Saab 9-3X highlights include:

Advanced ‘infotainment’ system with twin display screens
Adaptable cargo-management system with automatic sliding floor
All-new 2.8-litre V6 turbo with first application of Saab Combustion Control (SCC)
Saab semi-automatic transmission

“This concept is a sporty interpretation of the cross-over theme,” says Saab Executive Director of Design, Michael Mauer. “It is a blend of coupe and off-roader, bringing together a sporty image and real functionality. It will be fun to drive, whatever the occasion.

“The 9-3X is the next step in the establishment of Saab’s new design language, which started last year with the 9X concept. I am confident this car will be an important inspiration behind future Saab products.”

Saab Automobile’s President and CEO, Peter Augustsson, says: “We are seriously considering the right sort of product with which to enter the off-road segment. It must be innovative and sporty and must have multidynamic properties, much like the 9-3X concept. You can also expect to see a number of features from this car in our coming products.”

The announcement of the 9-3X is the latest step in Saab’s aggressive new product plan, which began with the unveiling of the Saab 9X at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. At least one new product or concept is to be announced every year for the next five years, and annual production volumes are expected to almost double to about 250,000 units in the next five or six years.

Continue reading: Saab 9-3x – Part II

The Saab 9-3x – Part 2

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Saab 9-3X – On the move

The Saab 9-3X is designed to deliver levels of performance and a ‘fun-to-drive’ experience that fulfils the promise of its sporty looks. The advanced powertrain features an all-new, lightweight 2.8-liter V6 turbo engine, designed to incorporate Saab Combustion Control, a semi-automatic transmission and a state-of-the-art, ‘intelligent’ four-wheel-drive system.

New-Generation Engine

The ‘Ecopower 2’ all-aluminum-alloy, 2.8-liter V6 engine is benchmarked to set new standards in efficiency, refinement, packaging and emissions control. Saab Automobile is GM’s global center of excellence for charged engines, and Saab engineers have been directly involved throughout the engine’s design and development program.

The slim, 60-degree configuration features double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, direct ignition and variable valve timing. Maximum power is 280 bhp at 5,500 rpm but, in Saab tradition, torque is of more importance and is with this engine extremely generous, with almost 400 Nm available throughout the operating range from as low as 1,700 rpm.

Continue reading →